Stocking-supporter.



No. 775,422. PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904. C. J. HIGLEY..

STOCKING SUPPORTER. I

APPLICATION FILED JUNE l, 1903.

No MODEL- 4 TORNEYS UNITED STATES Patented November 22, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

CHRISTINA J. HIGLEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

srocKlNefsupPonrsn.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 775,422,

dated November 22, 1904.

. Application filed J 11116 l, 1903. Serial No. 159,402. (No model.)

- specification, reference being had to the drawing accompanying and forming apart hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in stocking-supporters; and it consists in the features hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The objects of my invention are to improve the construction of stocking-supporters of the class comprising pads designed to be located when in use in front of the abdomen to render such stocking-supporters adjustable as to the space to which pressure is applied by the pads, to cause the stocking-supporter to a0- commodate itself automatically to the movements of the wearer, and to make it as simple as possible.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which one form of stocking-supporter embodying my invention is illustrated, and will then point outv the novel features in claims.

The said drawing shows a front view of my improved stocking-supporter, a portion of one of the pads being broken away to show the stifening with which the inner edges of the pads are provided.

My improved stocking-supporter consists of two pads l and of similar but opposite form, provided with a plurality of lacingholes 3 near their adjacent or inner edges,

through which may pass a suitable lacing cord, ribbon, or elastic 4. The main portions of the pads are usually constructed of unstiiened or only slightly-stiifened fabric, but near the lacing-cords stifening-ribs 5, of whalebone or thelike, are inserted in the pads. These stif'ening-ribs act to preserve the proper form of the pads by preventing the lacing"- cord from drawing the pads out of shape and also serve to distribute the pressure applied by the pads, preventing the same from being concentrated. They also ytend to counteract any tendency to distortion of the pads due to the supporting of such pads atupper corners onlyand the attachment of the webbing at the lower edges. The pads are supported and connected to the body of the wearer at the top only, being left free at the sides, so that they may accommodate themselves to the movements of the wearer. Various means for attaching these pads to the body or clothing of the wearer may be provided. I have illustrated for the purpose a waist-belt 6, at- Y tached to the upper outside corner of one pad, and a buckle 7 therefor, attached to the corresponding corner of the other pad.

At the lower edges of the pads are attached rings 8, through which pass strips of webbing 9, provided at their lower ends with suitable stocking-clasps or gripping devices 10. Each 'strip of webbing has such a clasp or gripping ldevice at each end and is arranged to run freely through its corresponding ring 8, as through a pulley, thereby facilitating greatly the automatic accommodation of the device to the movements of the wearer.

It is important in stocking-supporters of this type, which act to prevent protrusion of the abdomen and to give to the wearer an erect carriage by exerting pressure tending to depress the wearers abdomen, that the pressure shall not be applied over too restricted an area. Obviously the area over w-hich the pressure should be distributed is greater in the case of persons of full, robust, or even corpulent figure than when the figure is slight or slender. This is permitted in my improved stocking-supporter by proper adjustment of the distance between the pads by means of the lacing-cord. This cord may be let out for large figures or drawn up for slender figures at will. The use of the lacingcord also permits the two pads to move with respect to each other, thereby facilitating greatly the automatic adjustment of the device to the figure of thewearer and the accommodation of the device to the movements of the wearer.

The lacing material used may be anything suitable, such as cord, either elastic or inelastic, ribbon, or the like.

I hereby disclaim as not of my invention the following: In a hose-supporter the combination,with a belt and stocking-supporting IOO tapes, ofa pad made of a plurality of inelastic sections and an elastic element intervening between said sections. In a hose-supporter the combination, witha belt and stocking-sup- 5 porting tapes, of a pad made of a plurality ofinelastic sections and an elastic element intervening between and uniting said sections. A,

hose-supporter comprising two abdominal pads, hose-supporting straps and abelt secured IO thereto and an elastic lacing-cord connecting the two pads along their adjacent edges. In-

a hose-supporter the combination, with suitable means ot support and stockingfsupport? ing tapes, of a pad composed of a plurality of I5 sections secured together by elastic laces. Iii

a hose-supporter 'the combination, with suitable means of support and stocking-support ing tapes, oi' a pad composed-of a plurality of inelastic sections secured together by elastic 2O laces. In a hose-supporter the combination,

l/Vhat I claim is- 1. In a stocking-supporter, the combination of two pads provided, along adjacent edges, with lacing holes, lacing material passing therethrough and connecting said pads, stiftening material therefor, means for supporting said pads connected thereto at the upper edges only, and stocking-supporting tapes connected to the lower edges of said pads.

2. In a stocking-supporter, the combination oftwopads" provided, along adjacent edges, with lacing-holes, stiffening material between the holes and the inner edges of the pads, lacing material passing therethrough and connecting'said pads, means forsupp'orting said pads con nected thereto at lthe upper edges only, and stockingsupporting `tapes connected vto the lower ledges of said pads.

' In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' CHRISTINA J HIGLEY.

. Witnesses: Y y

L. F. CARRINGTON, H. M. MARBLE. 

